Illinois Lawyer Charged in Client Referral Fee Scheme

An Illinois attorney and three former state tax auditors have been federally indicted concerning an alleged client referral scheme.

Attorney Dean Roupas, 36, who practices in the Chicago suburb of Burbank, has been charged along with the auditors with participating in an arrangement in which Roupas paid $25,500 to have the state workers recommend his legal services to individuals they were auditing, according to the Associated Press.

Illinois Department of Revenue rules prohibit auditors from accepting gifts with a value of more than $50, as well as a gift of any value that is intended to influence official action.